Fruit Bats
This is a 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Eric D. Johnson rarely lingers at one location too long. “There’s always been motion in my life between one place and another,” says the Fruit Bats songwriter. As a kid growing up in the Midwest, Johnson’s family moved around a lot, but it wasn’t until he became a touring musician years later that motion became a central part of his identity. That transient lifestyle stoked an enduring reverence for the world he watched pass by through a van window. A sense of place is a unifying theme he’s revisited with Fruit Bats throughout its many lives. From the project’s origins in the late ’90s as a vehicle for Johnson’s lo-fi tinkering to the more sonically ambitious work of recent years, Fruit Bats has often showcased love songs where people and locations meld into one. It’s a loose song structure that navigates what he calls “the geography of the heart.” Those pathways extend straight through the newest Fruit Bats album, aptly titled A River Running to Your Heart. Self-produced by Johnson—a first for Fruit Bats—with Jeremy Harris at Panoramic House just north of San Francisco, it’s Fruit Bats’ tenth full-length release. The album finds the project in the middle of a people-powered climb leading to the biggest shows, loudest accolades, and most enthusiastic new fans in Fruit Bats history! It’s hard to pinpoint a single reason for this mid-career resurgence. But after two decades of making music, hard-earned emotional maturity has clearly seeped into Johnson’s already inviting songs, resulting in a sound that’s connected with audiences like no other previous version of the band. A River Running to Your Heart represents the fullest realization of Johnson’s creative vision to date. It’s a sonically diverse effort that largely explores the importance of what it means to be home, both physically and spiritually. And while that might seem like a peculiar focus for an artist who’s constantly in motion, for Fruit Bats, home can take many forms—from the obvious to the obscure.
Todd Rundgren: STILL ME (STILL WE)
2025 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian With U.S. top 40 hits that include “We Gotta Get You a Woman,” “Hello It’s Me,” “I Saw the Light,” “Can We Still Be Friends,” and the iconic single “Bang the Drum All Day,” Rundgren is an iconic musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Nazz and Utopia. He is known for his sophisticated and often unorthodox music, his occasionally lavish stage shows, and his later experiments with interactive art.
Pride After Party with The Idiot Kids & DJ Mercury Ulia
This is a 18 and over event. Based out of Hamtramck, MI, The Idiot Kids have been making noise since 2011. The Idiot Kids have the energy of punk, the roughened aesthetic of garage rock and the melodic sensibilities of art pop. This is music with shake-you-up hooks, frenzied tempos, gnarly guitars and anthemic vocals. Known for their live performances; they blend the theatricality of glam with the raw energy of hardcore punk. Mercury Ulia doesn’t just play hardstyle — they conjure it. Based in Ann Arbor, they’ve become a force in Southeast Michigan’s underground with sets that move between divine softness and explosive rhythm. Always aiming to connect, not just impress, their sound is emotional, explosive, and impossible to ignore. They’ve been honored to play the MainStage at New Wave Music Festival and share a mix on Detroit’s 313.FM. Whether it’s a packed club or a small underground, Mercury shows up with heart and intention. Every set is a chance to move, feel, and be present — together. There is no charge to attend this event. Outfront Kalamazoo will be accepting $5 donations at the door. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Pajamas wsg Hannah Laine
18+ Standing Room Only Show | 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian In an era of precision-crafted playlists and algorithmic recommendations, Pajamas is a refreshing anomaly. Hailing from Ann Arbor, MI, Pajamas’ style has been described as “exploratory rock” – a good descriptor for Pajamas’ sound which contains a smorgasbord of influences from across almost the whole canon of American music tradition. This four man group is redefining the live music experience, standing on the shoulders of giants and crafting performances that are as much about the journey as the destination. The band’s rocky overall sound is nuanced, feeling almost like each song is an interesting, in-depth conversation between the band and audience. This engaging live performance style has earned Pajamas a dedicated fan base across the country affectionately known as ‘bedheads’. The band’s four members – Nicholas Orr, Graham Low, Owen Kellenberger, and Liam Gallegos – weave together a tapestry of sound that is both intricate and expansive. Songs blend seamlessly into one another, creating a sense of flow and continuity that is all too rare in modern music. Pajamas draws influence from the likes of Pink Floyd, Phish, Chick Corea, Grateful Dead, Jaco Pastorius, David Bowie, Brian Blade, Radiohead, Victor Wooten, Allman Brothers and many others. Since 2018, Pajamas has played hundreds of shows across the Midwest and beyond. From festivals like Summer Camp and to big stages like Frederik Meijer Garden Amphitheater they’ve shared the stage with nationally touring acts including Goose, Aqueous, Karina Rykman and many others.
GIMME GIMME DISCO
This is a 18+ event with standing room only17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Calling all Dancing Queens! Here we go again! If you can’t get enough ABBA then do we have a dance party for you. We are a DJ based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA hits, plus plenty of other disco hits from the 70s & 80’s like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, & Cher (DISCO ATTIRE ENCOURAGED). So honey honey, take-a-chance and you’ll be dancing all night long. Grab tickets, bring your friends, and have the best night of your life!
HERE COME THE MUMMIES
2025 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Here Come the Mummies is an eight-piece funk-rock band of 5000 year-old Egyptian Mummies with a one-track mind. Their “Terrifying Funk from Beyond the Grave” is sure to get you into them (and possibly vice versa). Since their discovery, HCTM has been direct support for P-Funk, Al Green, Mavis Staples, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Cheap Trick; rocked Super Bowl Village; become a regular on The Bob and Tom Show; appeared on That’s My Jam with Jimmy Fallon; played massive festivals like Summer Fest, Summer Camp, Common Ground, Musikfest, and Suwannee Hulaween; and sold tickets by the thousands across large swaths of North America. Maybe that’s why the ladies (and some dudes) can’t stop losing their minds over these mayhem-inducing mavens of mirth. Some say they were cursed after deflowering a great Pharaoh’s daughter. Others claim they are reincarnated Grammy-Winning studio musicians. Regardless, HCTM’s mysterious personas, cunning song-craft, and unrelenting live show will bend your brain, and melt your face. Get ready! Here Come The Mummies.
Bell’s 40th Anniversary Garden Party with The 1985
2025 Bell’s Beer Garden Summer Concert SeriesThis is a 18 and over event. 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian The 1985 is the Midwest’s RADDEST tribute to the 1980s! Producing its Totally 80’s Mixtape LIVE! Experience that features the best of the 1980s rock, pop, new wave, metal and club. While we just wanna have fun, we take our roles as performers seriously. We have a fine-tuned, super-charged technical show that combines videos, lights, costumes and more to create a totally immersive music experience. Our goal is to help you turn back time and party like it’s 1985!
PAINT YOUR PET NIGHT
Happy National Pet Day!! Come down to Bell’s Back Room to put your painting skills to the test while painting a portrait of your pet! Leading the way is our creative, artistic, and very talented co-worker Maria, who will guide you through the process of painting your pet. For just $15 per person, you’ll get: Supplies A drink ticket to get the creative juices flowing A night filled with laughter and likely some accidental abstract art Spots are limited—grab yours now!
PAINT YOUR PET NIGHT
Come down to Bell’s Back Room to put your painting skills to the test while painting a portrait of your pet! Leading the way is our creative, artistic, and very talented co-worker Maria, who will guide you through the process of painting your pet. For just $20 per person, you’ll get: Supplies A drink ticket to get the creative juices flowing A night filled with laughter and likely some accidental abstract art Spots are limited—grab yours now!
Headband Henny and PARALLELZ with Special Guests Celeste Allison, & Moravian
18+ Standing Room Only Show | 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Hailing from Grand Rapids’ vibrant music scene, PARALLELZ is an indie rock band with a sound that defies easy categorization. Its music seamlessly weaves funk, soul, R&B, and pop elements into a tapestry of catchy, dynamic indie rock. Fronted by multi-instrumentalist and producer Sean Stynes, the band delivers a potent blend of thoughtful songwriting and infectious energy. PARALLELZ is backed by a powerful rhythm section with Dan Julian on drums and Brad Watson on bass, while Jacob Chapman’s captivating keys, horns, and vocal harmonies always hit right. Recent additions of guitarist Paul Costopulos and vocalist Katana Valle-Sloane have added layers of depth and texture to the band’s sound. Sean Stynes’ electrifying fuzz guitar work and vocals complete the band’s unique sound, creating a sonic experience that’s both familiar and refreshingly new. The band’s 2024 debut record “Strange Mythologies” was mixed in part by renowned LA engineer Matt Biship (The Killers, U2, Taylor Swift) and delves into the universal themes of love and loss, exploring the mythologies that surround these experiences in our culture. The album’s characters grapple with these myths as they navigate pivotal life changes, inviting listeners to reflect on their own beliefs and journeys. Headband Henny is a rising artist from Kalamazoo, Michigan, blending the emotional depth of alternative R&B with the experimental edge of neo-soul and hip hop, drawing inspiration from artists like Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy, and Kevin Abstract. His breakthrough feature on the single “One on One” with Micah Daily-White has amassed over 5 million streams across platforms and sparked viral moments with 3,000 uses on TikTok. Henny’s debut album Purple racked up 400,000 streams and was named one of the top 5 albums of 2023 by Revue Magazine in West Michigan. His raw storytelling and genre-bending sound have earned him a loyal fanbase, and in 2024, him and his live project opened for the All-American Rejects in Dearborn, Michigan. Known for his introspective lyrics and captivating performances, Headband Henny is a unique voice in the modern music landscape, offering a fresh take on love, identity, and self-expression.
